Fort St Elmo

Fort St Elmo stands on the point where the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett meet, and it was the position that took the weight of the Ottoman assault in 1565: it held for a month before falling, and the delay is generally credited with saving the rest of the island. It was rebuilt afterwards and repeatedly enlarged. The National War Museum inside covers Maltese military history from the Bronze Age to the Second World War, including the George Cross awarded to the island in 1942.

History

In 1488 the Aragonese built a watchtower on the point, dedicated to Erasmus of Formia, better known as Saint Elmo, and in 1552 work began on a star fort designed by the Spanish engineer Pietro Pardo. After 1565 the fort was rebuilt and joined to the walls of the new city of Valletta, with the Vendôme Bastion added in 1614 and the Carafa Enceinte in 1687 (Wikipedia, Fort Saint Elmo).

Highlights

• The star fort - the rebuilt fortification on the point between the two harbours.
• The National War Museum - military history from prehistory to the twentieth century.
• The George Cross - the award made to Malta in 1942, displayed in the museum.
• The 1565 story - the position whose month-long defence shaped the Great Siege.

When to go

Year round; the museum is indoors but the fort itself is exposed. Mornings are coolest for the outdoor sections. It closes on some public holidays.

Things to know

Parts of the fort remain closed and under restoration. The outdoor sections are hot and exposed in summer. The museum is large and takes longer than most visitors allow.

Nearby

Valletta is behind it, and the Upper Barrakka is southwest.

Key facts